Bobby Jindal a former congressman and first term governor, was widely believed to be on then-Republican presidential nominee John McCain's shortlist for vice president.

(CNN) - Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is set to deliver the Republican response to Barack Obama's upcoming joint address to Congress - the high-profile slot the rival party often gives to one of its rising stars.

“Gov. Jindal embodies what I have long said: the Republican Party must not be simply the party of 'opposition,' but the party of better solutions," House Minority Leader John Boehner said in a Wednesday statement.

Jindal a former congressman and first term governor, was widely believed to be on then-Republican presidential nominee John McCain's shortlist for vice president, and often served as a campaign surrogate on the Arizona senator's behalf.

The 37-year-old son of Indian immigrants was also given a prime-time speaking slot at the GOP convention last September, though he ultimately decided not to attend the four-day event as Hurricane Gustav headed for landfall in his state.

An Ivy League grad, Rhodes Scholar, and the first non-white governor of Louisiana, Jindal has long been on the GOP's radar screen as a potential future leader and likely presidential candidate. And as the GOP is launching full-scale efforts to appeal to non-white voters, Jindal has become one of the party's most high-profile minorities.

soundoff(210 Responses)

tek

I'm a democrat but I don't mind Jindal because he is educated. I think that's why America sucks now. The celebration for educated and intelligent individuals for high office is not valued anymore. I don't think the public will complain as much if the GOP started to endorse people like Pawlenty and Jindal but they offer people like Palin. If the democrats had someone like Palin, who is inept when it comes to complex issues, then the GOP would be having a field day.

February 11, 2009 02:42 pm at 2:42 pm |

July

Sure, Jindal is the GOP "rising star"... I'll go for that. Problem is that hardline conservatives aren't gonna vote for a guy that has written about his experience at exorcising a demonic possession from a college peer. Does anyone really think that the uber-Christian righties will vote for this guy?

February 11, 2009 02:44 pm at 2:44 pm |

george

ok let me get this straight. Palin was picked because Hillary lost, Steele was picked because President Obama won, and now Jindal is a person who is the govenor of one of the hardest hit and hardest red states in the country...possibly trying to show they understand the country is in a terrible but shape..(but not bad as the depression..let's wait until 25% unemployment so they say). this is a slap in my face. what's next? a an elephant to counter whatever dog the first family chooses. burn in hell GOP

February 11, 2009 02:44 pm at 2:44 pm |

Franky

"His stewardship of the state of Louisiana, dedication to reforming government, and commitment to bringing forth new and innovative ideas make him a leader not just within the Republican Party, but in our nation as a whole," Boehner also said of Jindal Wednesday."

Well, well. Looks like the GOP finally got the memo. And for the record GOP, PLEASE do not force his hand because if I find out if you do, it'll be much more worse than Gov Palin, and that will be...in a couple of hours when I get numbers, LOL!! So, don't play around with me GOP...plus, it takes a couple hours, I just wanna see on CNN quick, LOL!! But it is very, very different...

February 11, 2009 02:45 pm at 2:45 pm |

Sniffit

@ TCM

That article was written by Connie Hair, a Republican and former speachwriter for Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ). Nice try, but you GOPers really REALLY need to learn that the internet makes trying to lie to us all a very VERY dangerous risk to take.

February 11, 2009 02:46 pm at 2:46 pm |

ConsiderThis, FL

Okay. A brown Limbaugh, Palin, Hannity, Colter, Sessions, Shelby, ALL REPUBLICANS. What's the GOP's point? Brown makes it better? Brown, Black, Purple, Yellow, Red, White, Blue – it doesn't change the "values" of the GOP – hyperconservatism – nobody benefits from being an American in ANY WAY EXCEPT THEM! WE WANT ALL THE MONEY, DON'T WANT TO DO ANY OF THE HEAVY LIFTING AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS ORDERED TO SEND THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS INTO SENSLESS WARS TO SHED THEIR BLOOD AND PROTECT OUR WAY OF LIFE!

February 11, 2009 02:46 pm at 2:46 pm |

SHIRLEY "60"

GO GOP USE ANYBODY OF COLOR TO TRY AND SHOW THAT YOU ARE NOT THE RACIST, GREEDY, HATEFUL PARTY THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SINCE I STARTED VOTING AT 19 YEARS OLD. YOU ARE NOT FOOLING ANYONE.

February 11, 2009 02:46 pm at 2:46 pm |

jaye

Why isn't Boehner or Seele giving the speech?
Because Boehner is now considered a whining crybaby and Steele a crook. Why isn't John McShame giving the speech? Because he's an idiot (oh, mr. puddles! LOL)

February 11, 2009 02:46 pm at 2:46 pm |

July

The one I am feeling really really sorry for is House Minority Leader John Boehner . He sure looks like he is in pain .. he knows it and everyone knows it ... he is such a loser!

February 11, 2009 02:46 pm at 2:46 pm |

arithmetic is liberal

So I guess the conservative comments moderator is at CNN today – that's the only way to explain the comments bordering on calls for treason and insurrection today...

February 11, 2009 02:47 pm at 2:47 pm |

xcusme

The GOP now wants to use a minority to make it look like they apeal to a larger group of people. First its stupid Steele now Jindal. Have not seen a minority upfront in this party until Pres. Obama came on the scene. Even a blind person can see through this. They are still a bunch of old white rich people trying to put a new face on themselves. Next they will show up in blackface a.k.a. Al Jolson.

February 11, 2009 02:47 pm at 2:47 pm |

anon

Jindal and Steele are sacrificial lambs .... I'm sure they will be thrown under the bus by GOP. Wait and see.

February 11, 2009 02:48 pm at 2:48 pm |

ray

the republican will say anything to show they are not racists which they are by the way. they have 12 million illegal immigrants who has sons and and daughters born here and are serving in the iraq and else where but yet they want to deport the parents of these service sons and daughters, talk about family values, hahah i wonder sometimes if these worship the same jesus as i do?.

February 11, 2009 02:48 pm at 2:48 pm |

James in Tx

I guess David Vitter was already booked by the D.C. Madam? You betcha

February 11, 2009 02:49 pm at 2:49 pm |

Simmy

Vincent Petrosino, Touche!

Bobby Jindhal is just like the other GOP front men: Michael Steele, Lynn Swann, Alan Keyes....You left out Armstrong Williams.
***********************************************************************
This disease of "Hatred" being revealed by Michelle Malkin (TownHall.com), and her pack-wolves, and others shows the depth of racism in our country. Thank God for President Obama. It's way past time that cankerous sore got medication, and be healed.

Thank God for all who are supporting President Obama. Live long, and prosper.

February 11, 2009 02:49 pm at 2:49 pm |

obama all the way

President Obama was elected because he was the BEST CHOICE, not because of his skin color. gop, why not try using intelligence and honesty for a change, America is sick of your GIMMICKS.

February 11, 2009 02:49 pm at 2:49 pm |

LuckyLady

The GOP seems to be on a "brown" mission lately. Is it because the "female" card McBush pulled didn't work? I wonder what the republican voters who Sarah Palin spoke to when she said that President Obama "isn't like us" thinks of the changes?

February 11, 2009 02:50 pm at 2:50 pm |

Felonious Monk

TCM-This shows how slimy the dems and Obama are….their quest to shove the stim pkg through goes with total disregard for what the American people say, and only serves their need to create a welfare state of voters for their own agenda…wake up libs, this bill screws the entire country!

Do you remember when the Republicans shoved through the house and senate a bill written by the banks that took away "our", the average citizens of America, bankruptcy protection. The banks wrote the legislation and the republicans pushed it through overriding all objections. Now we bail those same banks out, yet we have no bankruptcy protection.
This was criminal.

February 11, 2009 02:51 pm at 2:51 pm |

Jill

I can hear it now. WAAAAAAAA. Tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts.

On the surface, this looks like another act of tokenism – first Steele – lets show them we have another dark skinned person too – we really are a big tent party! So superficial.

Did you happen to see Michelle Malkins comments at the end of the Hennrietta Hughes story? That's the face of the gop for you. Absolutely disgusting. What a contrast to the good folks that stepped in to help.

February 11, 2009 02:52 pm at 2:52 pm |

kevin-pa

hey "sick n tired of CNN moderators"
get your facts straight. his parents are Hindus...it is not Muslim, its a different religion you idiot!
I see Obama lovers are scared...hmm wonder why?
Obama came saying change and change..only thing chnaged is, earlier we had a VP but now the VP is his wife:
all the lobyst, tax cheaters are running the show...independents are now moving away from this Obama...

February 11, 2009 02:53 pm at 2:53 pm |

Rick Sutter

Mary, you are such a racist.

February 11, 2009 02:55 pm at 2:55 pm |

Rob

One look at the lib kooks posting here and you can clearly see who the racists are. You can be dang sure that if Jindal was a Dem, and those posts were there, you'd be demanding CNN track the people down and throw them in jail.

But then again, to you racism is only how you interpret it.

How pathetic.

February 11, 2009 02:55 pm at 2:55 pm |

Jon Davis

I can't wait to hear what Bobby Jingoism says. Wait, I think Paris Hilton may be giving a news conference on YouTube at the same time, and I don't want to miss it. Darn!

February 11, 2009 02:55 pm at 2:55 pm |

S Callahan

i like Jindal, and frankly he 'gets ' what is like for the suffering poor...he sees it first hand.....
I hope he thinks of the citizens when he gives this speech and realizes the public just can't stomach any more nastiness.

February 11, 2009 02:56 pm at 2:56 pm |

Southern Princess

I think Jindal is a smart and reasonable guy. However, if he only wants to speak the same republican crap, it will be a complete waste of time.